Guadalupe Victoria

Guadalupe Victoria (29 September 1786-21 March 1843) was President of Mexico from 10 October 1824 to 31 March 1829, preceding Vicente Guerrero. The first constitutionally elected President of Mexico, he was also the only President to serve out his full term in the first 30 years of the republic.

Biography
Guadalupe Victoria was born in Tamazula, Durango, New Spain in 1786, and he joined the revolution against Spain in 1812, joining Nicolas Bravo's troops in Veracruz. By 1815, he was in command of guerrilla forces in Veracruz, attacking Spanish supply convoys until he was defeated. He became rivals with the monarchist Agustin de Iturbide, as Victoria had a republican vision for an independent Mexico, while Iturbide supported a conservative monarchy. Victoria joined Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's conspiracy against Iturbide, forcing him into exile in 1823. With the downfall of the First Mexican Empire, Victoria served in the Chamber of Deputies for Durango and became a member of the Supreme Executive Power government, and, in 1824, he became the first constitutionally-elected President of Mexico. He established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom, United States, the United States of Central America, and Gran Colombia, abolished slavery, founded the National Museum, promoted education, ratified the border with the USA, expelled the last Spanish citizens from the country, and defeated the last Spanish stronghold at San Juan de Ulua. He completed his full term, leaving office in 1829, and he died of epilepsy at the fortress of Perote in 1843.